Clarice walked out of her apartment and almost tripped
on the package that was left there by the postman. She steadied herself
and then picked it up. It was lightweight and very small. She slid it into
her purse and left for work.
When she reached headquarters she quickly strode
to her desk and took the package out of her purse. Throwing her purse in
her drawer she looked around to see if anyone was watching her. When she
knew she was safe, she slowly undid the package, anticipation tingling
in her toes. What she saw inside the box this time was a bottle of Lalique's
perfume Le Baiser. Also there was a letter. She opened the cap smelling
its contents while she unfolded the parchment. It smelled wonderful. She
smoothed out the wrinkled in the paper and began to read:
Dear Clarice,
how you are feeling? Sleeping well I hope.How did you like my last gift
? I can see you haven't told anyone about my last contact with you ,for
my spot on the ten most wanted still remains the same. Well CLarice I must
say I wasn't sure whether you would "sell me out", but I am pleased to
see you have not. I may even soon trust you enough to tell you how to write
me back. Would you like that Clarice? I must say that my sleep has
been a little troubled. But its not the screams of lambs that keep me awake
Clarice. No, I hear a different kind of screaming but I suppose you could
say our screams are similar. In my dreams I hear my sister screaming
for me to help her. You didn't know about my sister did you Clarice? Quid
pro quo though. You tell me about your lambs now and Ill tell you about
Mischa. If you wish to contact me, take out an ad in the paper. Have it
sent to M.H. and have it be from Hannah. Ill be watching for it Clarice.
If you wish to know how to send me things, we'll just wait and see how
far our trust can go. Let me tell you now, don't ask me where I am because
I wont tell you. Not yet anyway. I hope you enjoy the perfume. Until our
next correspondance.
Hannibal Lecter, m.d.
Clarice put down the letter and sighed to herself. She felt a warmth
around her when she read his words. She felt so safe within them. Clarice
felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned in surprise.
"Who? Oh hello Mr. Crawford. You startled me."
"Sorry Starling. Whats that?"he said pointing at the bottle of perfume.
Clarice slid saome files over the letter on her desk and picked up
the bottle.
"Its a new perfume I got."
He smelled it.
"Smells nice. Um Starling.....you can go home."
"But I just got here sir."
"I know but we really dont need you today. Plus I think you need some
rest."
Clarice had no idea what he was talking about. She had been off for
the past 2 days.
"Well sir I was going to work on my promotion papers."
"I know Starling , I know. Its just I dont want you to...."
"DOnt want me to what sir?"
"I dont know...I just dont want you to.."
Then it hit Clarice.
"You dont want me to get my hopes up because you know Im not getting
promoted. I understand sir. Thank you, good day."
Her anger evident in her voice Clarice scooped the papers from her
desk into her bag and grabbed her purse and perfume and made a move to
leave.
"Look Starling....you'll get a cha-"
She suddenly turned and cut him off.
"Ill get a chance. Yes sir you've said that a million times before.
Ill just add this one to the others."
With that she turned and left for home.
The next time the paper ran, there was an ad for a M.H. rom Hannah that
read:
M.H.
Desperatley seaking solace. Tired of dead end job.Wish to send you
more than this.
We deliberatly choose to trust and yes it is a risk. I want to take
that risk now. Have
faith in me.
Hannah
Hannibal put down his copy of the Washington Post and smiled. Could he trust her? A part of him was skeptical but another part of him wanted to. Then he got an idea. He would put out just a little bait to see how far she could be trusted. If she passed the test then maybe he would consider giving her a way to contact him. He wired in a response to her ad giving her an address for a PO Box in Buenos Aires. He would telephone and see if anything would arrive there and if after a week no FBI followed and his face stayed at its low spot on the top 10 then he would send for the contents and go from there.
Clarice read the response to her ad and gathered all the letters she
had written from her box placing them in date order with the letter she
had just finished. She then wrapped the letters in a box and sent them
first class mail to the address provided to her. Then she waited.
